The league needs Comtois/Norris/Batherson/Dube and various NHL-AHL tweeners. Last season the Stockton Heat would just destroy the Condors. That team had vets like Brandon Davidson who played in the NHL. This season... it’s sloppy and no team is crisp and as skilled. However, it could be lack of a preseason and these games are early in the season.
Quiet night for Drysdale. He does remind me a little of Duncan Keith though. Tonight, 3 of the Condors goals against the Gulls were garbage types. And players of both teams simply didn’t cash in on passes when wide open. Hard to judge with so many ECHLers playing.
I think that Jake Sanderson and Keith are much more comparable when Keith was approximately the same age (not the Norris winning peak Keith who was a lot closer to being dynamic rather than quietly effective/steady on most nights).
Sanderson and Keith are both better skaters than Drysdale, whos no slouch, but most scouts agreed that Sanderson was the best in his class in that area. And they both player a more aggresive and physical game, while having a similar stature at around 6'1 200lbs.
And they both play a reliable two way game that is based around primarily around elite skating, strong defensive positioning, and making subtle but high IQ plays in all 3 zones. And like Keith had prior to his peak NHL seasons and during his time as a college prospect, Sanderson also has that tantalizing possibility of untapped offensive potential when hes fully developed.
Every one of his coaches (from prestigious programs) seem to go out of their way to point out that hes more capable offensively than his stat line would suggest.
Personally, I see a lot of Morgan Reilly in Drysdale. A solid but not spectacular puck moving Dman thats able to eat decent minutes and get some points, but might get in a bit of trouble if his team expects him to carry the load both offensively and defensively. More of a #2 or #3 in an ideal world.